Hydrangea plant named &#39;BCHY-10.P14&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘BCHY-10.P14’ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The variety ‘BCHY-10.P14’ has attractive inflorescences with relatively large sepalous florets, attractive, uniform sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-10.P14’.

Variety denomination: ‘BCHY-10 .P14’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-10.P14’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled crossbetween the commercial variety known as ‘Blue Danube’ which was thepollen parent and the commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ which wasthe seed parent. ‘Venedig’ may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,928 which is registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Blue Danube’ is arelatively compact plant.

The variety ‘BCHY-10.P14’ has relatively large sepalous florets, uniformsepal pigmentation at maturity and good commercial characteristics. Thecolor of the sepals changes as the plant ages. Below is a tablecomparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1 Commerical variety ‘Venedig’ U.S. U.S. which may be U.S. PlantPat. No. Plant Pat. No. Plant Pat. No. New Variety 23,757 25,507 10,928‘BCHY-10.P14’ ‘BC6.1’ ‘BC8.3’ ‘Venice Raven’ Leaf size 10 cm wide × 12cm wide × 10 cm × 16 cm 11 cm wide × 14.5 cm long 15 cm long 15.5 cmlong—source US PP10,928 Plant height 20″ in 6″ pot. 15″ in 6″ pot. 15″in 6″ pot 12″ in 6″ pot—observed controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. Stemstrength Strong Stems are Stems are Strong—observed strong butrelatively controls benefit from strong. grown alongside being staked‘BC6.1’. Sepal Upper sides of Upper side of Upper side of Upper side ofPigmentation sepals are sepals is R.H.S. sepals is sepals is R.H.S.R.H.S. 98 A 86 A (violet R.H.S. 73 A 84 A (violet (violet-blue group);Under (red-purple group). Under group). Under side of sepals is group)in side of sepals is sides of sepals R.H.S. 88 D center, and R.H.S. 85 Aare R.H.S. 98 C (violet group) margins of (violet group) (violet-bluesepals are observed controls group). R.H.S. 56 A grown alongside (redgroup). ‘BC6.1’. Sepalous Floret 70 mm 70 mm 50 mm to 60 mm 70mm—observed Size—Diameter controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’.

The new cultivar ‘BCHY-10.P14’ has been successfully asexuallyreproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery inHalf Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere used from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexuallyreproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. showthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for‘BCHY-10.P14’ remains firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit,dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit,dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a view of the base of the plant.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the upperside of the inflorescence of thenew variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plant shown is approximately a year old. The plant started out ascuttings, used from the stem of a grown plant. The soil for the plantwas periodically treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. Theplant was pinched early to promote lateral branches.

‘BCHY-10.P14’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, treatment withaluminum and day length. Color determinations were made with The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, developed in associationwith the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

-   The plant:    -   -   Origin.—Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a            seedling from a controlled cross between the commercial            variety known as ‘Venedig’ which was the seed parent and            which may be ‘Venice Raven’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928, and            the commercial variety ‘Blue Danube’ which was the pollen            parent.        -   Form.—Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature            inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 20″            high and has a diameter of 2″ when grown in a 6″ pot with            appropriate soil amendments.        -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is            large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the            base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in            appearance and form to the main stems.        -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A            (violet group) and are 1 to 4 mm long. The surface of young            stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color            of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.            144 A (yellow-green group). The older portions of the stems            are R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group). Younger portions of the            stems are 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems are            7 mm in diameter.        -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral            branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and            acute apex. Margins are serrate. Texture. — Glabrous; veins            dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the            upper leaf surface. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper            side that is R.H.S. 136 A (green group), and an under side            that is R.H.S. 137 C (green group). Leaves are pinnately            veined. The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are            large and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Veins            are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group). Leaves are as wide as            10.0 cm and 14.5 cm long. Petioles are smooth and            approximately 3.0 cm long and 4 mm wide. Petioles are R.H.S.            145 C (yellow-green group).-   Buds:    -   -   Form.—Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.            Most buds, whether they will mature into sepalous or            non-sepalous florets, have 4 petals. Buds in the center of            the inflorescence are non-sepalous. The minority of buds            will develop into sepalous florets. They are approximately 2            mm by 2 mm when very young. Buds can be 5 mm in diameter and            still unopened. Color of mature buds is R.H.S. 98 B            (violet-blue group).        -   Aspect.—Smooth.        -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 100 individual            florets (both sepalous and non-sepalous) per inflorescence.            Both sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne on the            same panicle. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The            peduncle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. Very            few non-sepalous florets developing early on cymes that are            later hidden by sepalous florets that form at the outside of            the panicle. Florets, both sepalous and non-sepalous, have            anthers and style. Inflorescences are long-lasting.        -   Size of inflorescence.—Compact and globose. Individual            inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A            typical inflorescence can grow as large as 9″ in diameter,            and 5″ high.        -   Shape.—Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets            overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.        -   Appearance.—Showy.-   Florets:    -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the            inflorescence open first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets            are perfect and complete. Corolla: Generally, for both            sepalous and non-sepalous florets there are 4 petals. Petals            are typically 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Petals are R.H.S. 98            B (violet-blue group). Lenticels are present on pedicels of            both sepalous and non-sepalous florets, lenticels are no            more than 1 mm. Lenticels are R.H.S. 59 B (red-purple            group). Pedicel length for non-sepalous florets averages            4 mm. Pedicel length of sepalous florets is approximately 40            mm in length for plants of this age. Pedicels of both            sepalous and non-sepalous florets continue to elongate as            the inflorescence ages. Pedicels range from 98 B            (violet-purple group) to R.H.S. 145 D (yellow-green group)            near floret when immature.        -   Stamens.—8 to 10 stamens. Anther is regular and basally            attached.        -   Stigma.—Two to three style each, although most florets have            two style. Each style has one stigma.        -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.        -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside            of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 to 5 sepals per floret,            usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape            of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,            but with much crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets            mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and            more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals            when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are            typically 32 mm long and 40 mm wide. Sepalous florets are            typically 70 mm in diameter. The upper sides of the sepals            are R.H.S. 98 A (violet-blue group) and the undersides are            R.H.S. 98 C (violet-blue group). Pigmentation develops at            the tips of the sepals and travels inward towards base of            the sepals.        -   Fruit.—none.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—unknown.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named‘BCHY-10. P14’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.